Curtain-rod.



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CURTAIN ROD.,

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 14, |916- I 1,250,19G. Patented Deo. 18,1917.

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C. W. KIRSCH.

CURTAIN ROD.

APPLICATION man FEB.14.1916.

Patented De@u 18, 1917.

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CHARLES W. KIRSCH, OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO KIRSCH MANUFACTURING C0., F STURGIS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN. l

CURTAIN-ROD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 191.7.

Application filed February 14, 1916. Serial No. 78,190.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. Kmson, citizen of the United States, residing at Sturgis, inthe county of St. Joseph .and St-ate of Michigan, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Curtaln- Rods; and I do hereby declare the following t0 be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in curtain rods or fixtures, and more particularly to that class of curtain fixtures which include substantially U-shaped curtain rods adapted to be horizontally disposed to project into the room from the Window casing. It has for its main object to provide'a device ofthe character set forth Which may be easily and quickly built up orv assembled from a minimum number of parts which are interchangeably engageable With each other to produce curtain fixtures of dieront lengths; either single or double; and of varying projection from a Window-frame or the like. i Heretofore curtain rods or fixtures of the telescopically adjustable variety have generally been madeof two pieces each having'an end portion or armextending substantiall at right angles to the middle portion. Tfiese rods or fixtures are variable in length only, but not in degree of rojection from the Window casing or the li e.

Fixtures each comprising two of the curtain rods disposed in parallelism one within the other have also been manufactured and sold in large quantities.

In order to supply all demands the dealer has been obliged to carry in stock a relatively large variety of such curtain fixtures varying as to size, style and depth and this has proved a hardship in many instances as, in different localities various styles are particularly popular and other styles practically unsalable. The latter would consequently become shop-worn in time besides unnecessarily tying up the dealers investment therein. It has also proved a hardship in a lesser degree on the manufacturer.

' ticularly pointed out The object of my present invention is to overcome this hardship on the dealer by so' constructing the fixtures as to enable the dealer to easily, quickly and Without Waste of material, make up rods to suit the patrons tastes and requirements, from a comparatively small stock of component parts separately purchasable from the manufacturer. Thus the small dealer is placed on an equal footing with `the larger in so far as his abllity to`l supply a variety of needs from his stock is concerned.

My invention consists in the features of construction and the arrangements and combinatlons of parts whereby I am enabled to obtain the above mentioned and other objects and all as hereinafter described and parin the appended clalms. f

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in Which i Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a double curtain rod shown in supporting position and embodying my invention in one form;

Fig. Q is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section similar to- Fig. 2- showing two positions of a rod relative to the Window, onebeing in dotted lines;

Fig. 4L- is a perspective view of one of the angle brackets or end members as it appears from the inside;

Fig. 5 is ar vertical section of the bracket on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. Q showin the fixture which supports the curtain ro Fig. 7 is an enlarged inside elevation particularly illustrating the means by which I make the rod proper' extensible;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the support-ing fixture on the line 8 8 of Fig.

Fig. Q is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 9 9 of Fig. Q particularly illustrating the means of clamping ings Cr in both quently,

the rod within the end members and the extension coupler; and

Fig. --10-d is a vertical io-io of rig. -9-.

While l have illustrated my invention as being applied particularly to the production of what is termed a flat curtain rod, it will be obvious that many of the features of my invention could be as well embodied in other forms of rods without departing beyond the scope thereof.

ln said drawings, A indicates extensible straight curtain rods, D indicates the bracket which l use with the rods A, and C is a supporting fixture which is secured upon the window casing or other suitable support and upon which the curtain rods are removably mounted. vlln the illustrated embodiment of my invention, ll have shown the brackets or end members D as being 'formed of a channel or @-shaped bar which is bent between its ends to substantially a right angle having one legD thereof shorter than the opposite leg of the bracket, as best is oi @-shape, that is,

section on the line shown in Fig. -l0-, it is provided with inturned parallel anges F at one 'side which extend toward each other. These danges, as shown, are on the inside of the brac ret, the outer side of the bracket being continuous and solid. rll`he free ends of the two legs are each provided with holes or opentheir top and bottom edges. These holes Crfare spaced a short distance from the free ends of the brackets and are adapted to receive prongs H provided upon the supporting plates C. Dach supporting plate is formed with outwardly extending plates d having the prongs H at their upper ends. The plates J are adapted to enter the open ends oi the brackets B and the prongs H, as Stated, enter the holes G and thus hold the brackets B supported in position with their` free ends held in contact with the adjacent tace ofthe' supporting fixture C. rllhe plates J substantially ill the brackets B at least to such an extent that the lower flange or wall or" the bracket engaging the lower end of the plate il, when the bracket is raised vertically before the upper flange, is disengaged trom the prong H.

rl`he cross section of the curtain rod A is similar to the cross section or the brackets B and is made of such dimensions relatively to the brackets D that the ends ot" the rod A are received telescopically within the ends oic the brackets D and are adapted to closely tit the brackets D. The free ends or all or the rods A are identical with each other and areadapted to tit within all oit the'ends of the brackets B interchangeably. Conseit is not necessary, in assembling the curtain. rods, to select any particular bracket to tit any particular end et a curtain rod,

E. The cross section Lacona@ but they are adapted to it each other interchangeably.

The object of makin the brackets D with their ends D and l or' dierent 'lengths is well brought out in Figs. 2 and ln Figs. `--1- vand -2-, ll have illustrated a double curtain rod, the rods being arranged in the same horizontal plane and the brackets B at each end of the rod bein-g parallel with each other. rll`he inner bracket in each case has lits shorter end D mounted upon the supporting fixture and its longer end iE receiving the curtain rod A, while the outer brackets have their longer ends E mounted upon the supporting fixture C and their shorter ends D receiving and supporting the curtain rod A. The two rods are thus supportedin parallel relation, one farther from the window than the other, andare adapted to receive and support fabric curtains of dierent texture as is quite common at the present time. lin -Fig. -3-, however, l have shown another use oit' my unique bracket B. lln this instance il have shown in full lines the brackets B with their shorter ends D mounted uponthe supporting fixtures C arid their longer ends l@ receiving and supporting the curtain rod A, while in dotted lines, l have shown the brackets having their ed upon the ixture C and their shorter ends D receiving and' supporting the curtain rod A, in the latter instance the curtain rod A being positioned at a greater distance from the Window than in the iforrner.` lt will now be clear that a dealer can supply from stock rods of ditlerent styles, projections and lengths without thenecessity ot carrying a lot of diderent styles and sizes oit parts. f A I lin making up cur-tain rods to t particular windows, therods are formed or an angle bracket B at each end and a section of curtain rod A1 supportedby and extending between the opositely disposed brackets. As the ends ot therod A1 are telescopically received within the ends oi the brackets, the rod is, to. a certain extent, adjustable in length to accurately fit the place or the window where it is to be used, but obviously this adjustment is quite limited. lt is, of cours-e, feasible to use a continuous piece ot the-rod A1 extending from one bracket D to the opposite bracket, but l prefer to build up the rod ci two or more pieces ot the rod t1 connected together by means of the telescopically iitting union or connector A2. rthe connector A2 is in cross-section similar in shape and size to the ends of the bracket B, that is, it is @shaped and is adapted to snugly receive the ends of the rod A1L tele-. scopically within its ends. 'lhe connector A2 is made of thin sheet metal similar to the metal of which the brackets D and the rod A1 are made and it may be made ci? such longer ends E mountlill@ 5 Within the ends of the brackets B and Within the connector A2, I provide eccentric expanders K which are formed of fiat sheet metal and which are in the nature of flat sheet metal washers adapted to be received n Within the ends of the rod A1, I make these washers of shorter diameter in one direction than in the other so that they can be easily placed in position within the ends of the ,rod A1 and thenby being rotated, so as to 15 bring their longer diameters transversely to the rods A1, they will forcibly expand the ends of thev rods A1 within the ends of the brackets B or within the ends of the connector A2 and thus securely hold the several parts of the complete curtain rod in their adjusted relative positions.

It is to be noted that when I make the l brackets B in the form shown in the drawings, I prefer to crush the fianges E and F down tightly upon the body of the bracket at the right angle, bend thereof, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 5-, to make the bracket more rigid and stiff.

In making up acurtain rod out of the materials which-I have provided, to fit a certain definite window, I first arrange the brackets B to place the rod A at the desired distance or projection from the Window.

This places the opposing ends of thebracket B a certain defimte distance apart and then I may cut arod A1 of a length to extend from bracket to bracket and enter the ends of the opposed brackets and be clamped,

therein, or I may build up the rod out of several pieces of the rod material connecting the pieces together bymeans of the connectors A2 and thus providing a greater adj ustability to the rod as a whole.

As many modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, I donot limit or'confine my invention to the specific structures herein shown and described.

I claim as my invention l. A curtain fixture comprising wall-fixtures equipped with means for engaging a curtain rod, a curtaln rod comprising amiddle portion and two L-shaped end members, the arms of which are of respectively different lengths and interchangeably telescopically engageable with said middle portion for varying the spacing of' the latter from said wall fixtures, each of said arms interchangeably engageable with said rod-engaging means on said wall fixtures.

2. A curtain fixture comprising a pair of curtain rods each consisting of a middle portion and two angular end-members, the several arms of each of the latter being of re-` spectively different lengths, the respective arms of each of said end-members being interchangeabl engageable with said nuddle portions, andfwall-fixtures for engaging the ends of the free arms of said end-members, all of said arms of the latter being interchangeably engageable with said wall-fixtures, said means on said wall-fixtures for engaging one arm of each of two of said end-members being spaced apart, the middle portions of said rods being spaced from each other a distance equal to the difference in length of the respective arms of one of said end members.

3. A curtain fixture comprising a pair of curtain rods each consisting of a middle portion and two angular end-members, the several arms of each of the latter being of respectively different lengths, the respective arms of said end-members being interchangeably engagea-ble with said respective middle portions to vary the dista-nce of the said middle portions from the ends "of the free arms of the end members engaged therewith, and wall-fixtures 'for engaging the ends of the free arms of said end-members, all of said arms of the latter being interchangeably engageable with said wall-fixtures, said means on said wall-fixtures for engaging one arm of each of two of said end-members being spaced apart a distance equal to the difference inlength of the respective arms of one of said end members, the long arms of one and the short arms of the other pair of the lat-ter being respectively engaged with said middle portions, and vice versa the other arms thereof engaged with said Wall fixtures.

4. An extensible curtain rod comprising a rod proper made up of a plurality of pieces of rod of C-shaped cross-section, sleeves of C-shaped cross-section telescopically receiving the adjacent ends of said pieces, means for clamping the sleeves upon said pieces, in combination with`right angled end members having ends which are duplicates of' each other andadapted to telescopically receive the' free ends of said rod proper.

5. A curtain rod including a middle portion and end members adapted to be engaged with each other and with wall fixtures, said end members each havin av long arm and a short arm adapted to e interchangeably engaged with said middle portion and said wall fixtures for s )acing the middle portion at two different distances from the wall.

6. A curtain hanger comprising a rod, a pair of end members each having a long and a short arm extending substantially transversely to each other, and a pair of wall fixtures adapted. to be secured to a Window casing, the respective arms of said end members adapted to be interchangeably engaged with said rod and said wall fixtures respectively for spacing the rod a't dierent distances from said wall xtures.

lagrime@ 's'. A U-shaped curtain rod comprising a.

middle Portion anni two integral angular end members teles'coploally engaged With said middle portion, said end members providing E5 means whereby the spacing of the :middley portion of the rod from the Window casing or the like may be varied.

iin testimony whereof ii have signed my name in presence of two subscribing wit- 

